He succeeded by she… born is Ali’s beauty
The beauty of Ali… encompassed by Zainab
* * *
No need for a Ka’ba, she’s a Ka’ba in herself
A house of Allah’s patience… blessed with Ali’s ambience
Haider looks in her eyes and in them he sees himself
Triumph in every instance… defeat wins in her absence
All Haider Ali is… exists within her bliss
What can be greater than this… encompassed by Zainab
* * *
Bless Fatima Assad, were she to see this infant
She would think it is her son… and that Ali has begun
If only she knew, he has continued triumphant
A star is born from the sun… in her Ali shall live on
If Ali leaves us orphans… a mother’s touch still softens
In our mother he remains… encompassed by Zainab
* * *
They say Islam does anything but honor women
That women aren’t empowered… subservient, dishonored
Yet here is Zainab bint Ali, honored above men
Men’s thrones she had dismembered… the land of Shaam she conquered
I cannot call her a queen… greater than all queens have been
Greatness, both passed and foreseen… encompassed by Zainab
* * *
Not veiled by veil but by the Heavens themselves
Beneath the old garment worn… so the poor don’t feel torn
So gracious to the poor, we wish we were poor ourselves
And that our clothes were outworn… that to despair we have sworn
So we can feel the safety… of her generosity
Yearn it the high and mighty… encompassed by Zainab
* * *
Ali’s beauty was born but here it is born again
The conqueror of Khaybar… finds his victor within her
A connection between them that no one can explain
The mighty Ali Haider… made soft by his own daughter
And like him, she beams of might… a second Lady of Light
Ali’s day and noon and night… encompassed by Zainab
* * *
(London – 24/01/17)